Pluggable electrical connectors



Jan. 31, 1967v W. L. SCHUMACHER PLUGGABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Aug. 11, 1964 INVIZNIOR. WILLIAM LUDLOW SCHUMACHER BY j' United States Patent 3,302,159 PLUGGABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS William Ludlow Schumacher, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor t0 AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Aug. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 388,857 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-177) This invention relates to pluggable electrical connectors of the type which are disposed into connector receptacles, and particularly to such connectors having more than one separate current-carrying path extending coaxially there through in insulated relationship.

In some cases, it is desirable to introduce an electrical component into one of the current-carrying paths in order to provide effective operation. The electrical component in this case is a resistor element which allows a certain amount of voltage to pass through a specific current-carrying path, but which prevents any current from leaking back through the path. This arrangement is particularly useful in the wiring schemes of computers and the like. The electrical component may be a capacitor, inductor, or other form of impedance, as well as any type of solid state component, depending on the particular requirement of the element or elements to be interconnected.

In the present invention, the electrical component is longitudinally disposed in the body of the connector such that its leads mechanically and electrically connect an inner current-carrying path to an adjacent socket contactor member. Another current path extends along the outer shell of the connector, which is insulated from the center conductor by dielectric spacer members. This type of connector is usually terminated to two wire leads, e.g., the center conductor joins one lead and the outer shell joins the other lead; however, it may also be terminated to shielded wire. The leads electrically interconnect associate component equipment such as, computers, as mentioned above.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a pluggable connector element having more than one current carrying path in coaxial relationship, and having electrical component means connected to one of the current paths and insulated from the other.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved pluggable connector element having a resistor member disposed therein, and which is characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness and stability.

Another object is to provide a connector as described above wherein the resistor element may be connected to the outer shell of the connector body, if desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pluggable connector having a first and second coaxial transmission line, wherein an electrical component means is included in the first transmission line, in such a way as to bridge a lead Wire entered therein and a contacting member embedded therein.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration and principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a pluggable electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; and

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FIGURE 2 is an exploded and] part sectional view of the connector of FIGURE 1 and its associate connector receptacle.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, this connector comprises a forward tubular-shaped outer shell 2, one end of which is telescopically crimped to a rearward tubular-shaped outer shell 4. A resistor element 6 is longitudinally disposed in the shell assembly, and held in place in passageway 7 of dielectric spacer 8. Resistor 6 has one lead wire 10 which is crimped into one end 13 of a socket member 12 by means of pressure deformation from the dies of a crimping tool (not shown), so as to form both a mechanical and electrical connection therewith. End 13 of member 12 is wedgingly disposed in the central portion of spacer 8, and the other end 28 of member 12 is wedgingly held into the forward end of spacer 8, as shown. Spacer 8 has an elongated slot 9 formed transversely therethrough, and outer shell 2 has elongated slots 22 and 24 formed directly over slot 9 and in communication therewith. This allows crimp area 15 of member 12 to be exposed in spacer 8 so that crimping dies from a tool may compress the crimp end of the member 12 onto lead Wire 10. Laterally opposed crimping dies are entered into this slot arrangement to make the crimp. Another lead Wire 14 extends from resistor 6 and is crimped into one end of a coupling ferrule 16. The other end of ferrule 16 has an outside lead wire 18 crimped therein. Ferrule 16 is held longitudinally in place by a rear dielectric spacer 20. The rear portion 26 of ferrule 16 is crimped onto lead wire 18 by another set of crimping dies through a slot arrangement 27 in spacer 20 and shell 4 similar to that of slots 9, 22 and 24 of spacer 8 and shell 2.

This arrangment constitutes a first transmission line whereby current is carried from outside lead wire 18, through resistor element 6 to socket member 12. The cylindrical cavity 29 of member 12 is the contacting portion of this transmission line whereby this cavity is frictionally coupled to an associate pin 31 of a connecting device CD, as shown in FIGURE 2. The entrance to cavity 29 is bell-mouthed to facilitate engagement with pin 31. Connecting device CD takes the form of the connecting devices fully disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,160,456, and U.S. Patent No. 3,201,743, both of which are assigned to the present assignee.

The rearward end of outer shell 4 defines the Wire entry means whereby lead wires are entered into the connector. The second lead wire 30 is compressed between shell 4 and ferrule 32. This arrangement constitutes the second transmission line whereby current is carried from outside lead wire 30, through outer shell 4 to outer shell 2. The forward end 34 of outer shell 2 is the contacting portion of the second transmission line whereby current is coupled to associate receptacle 36 of connecting device CD, as shown in FIGURE 2. Connecting device CD is disposed in a connector block B.

A U-shaped cut 37 is made into one surface of contacting end 34 to provide a radial spring member 38. This spring member causes end 34 of shell 2 to tightly engage the inner walls of associate receptacle 36. This U-shaped cut is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,235,834, and assigned to the present assignee.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a stabilizing ring 39 having a series of spring fingers 40 is attached to shell 2. This ring is positioned over elongated. slots 22 and 24 and supports the connector when the connector is in place in its associate connector block B, as shown in FIGURE 2. Connector blocks B, B are also disclosed in Patent Nos. 3,160,456 and 3,201,743. Ring 39 is also disclosed in Patent No. 3,235,834.

In assembly, socket member 12 is disposed in dielectric spacer 8. This subassembly is inserted into shell 2 such a that ledge 3 on spacer 8 abuts the end of shell 2. Resistor element 6 with lead wire 14 crimped into coupling ferrule 16 is inserted into spacer 8 such that lead wire 10 enters the wire barrel of member 12.

Spacer 20 is positioned into shell 4 and shell 2 subassembly is telescopically inserted into shell 4. Shell 4 is crimped onto shell 2 as indicated at so as to mechanically and electrically join the two shells. The crimp is then made onto area 15 of member 12, and onto portion 26 of ferrule 16. These two crimps may be made simultaneously. Cylindrical ferrule 32 is then crimped onto shell 4 with its lead wire 30 therebetween.

It is visualized that all of the crimps except the one between ferrule 16 and wire 14 may be made simultaneously, if desired.

Stabilizing ring 39 is pushed onto shell 2, and positioned over slots 22 so that spring fingers 40 extend outwardly therefrom.

It should be noted that lead wire 14 of resistor element 6 may be terminated to outer shell 4 by ferrule 32 through lead wire 18. In this case, lead wire 30 is eliminated. This would provide a coaxial jack plug having an electrical component bridging the first and second transmission lines.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed a pluggable electrical connector having more than one curerntcarrying path with one of the current-carrying paths having an electrical component therein which is housed within the connector.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention, which are shown and described herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector comprising a metallic shell having interfitting shell members, each of said shell members having openings extending therethrough, a first dielectric spacer in one of said shell members and having an aperture extending therethrough in alignment with said openings of this one shell member, a center contact member in said first dielectric spacer, said center contact member having a lead-receiving section at one end with a portion of said lead-receiving section disposed in said aperture, a second dielectric spacer in the other of said shell and having a hole extending therethrough in alignment with said openings of this other shell member, an electrical component disposed between said dielectric spacers, said electrical component having electrical leads with one of said electrical leads disposed within said leadreceiving section and crimpable thereto through the aligned aperture and openings, a ferrule secured to another of said electrical leads and disposed in said second dielectric spacer, said ferrule having a lead-receiving area disposed in said hole and crimpable to a conductor member through the aligned hole and openings, and means to secure another conductor member to said shell.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein one of said dielectric spacers includes a cavity in which said electrical component is disposed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,282 4/1955 Dudra 339l77 X 2,805,399 9/1957 Leeper 339-177 X 3,160,456 12/1964 OKeefe et al 339-177 X 3,221,290 11/1965 Stark et a1 339177 3,235,834 2/1966 OKeefe et a1. 339177 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,026,747 2/1953 France.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING A METALLIC SHELL HAVING INTERFITTING SHELL MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID SHELL MEMBERS HAVING OPENINGS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A FIRST DIELECTRIC SPACER IN ONE OF SAID SHELL MEMBERS AND HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID OPENINGS OF THIS ONE SHELL MEMBER, A CENTER CONTACT MEMBER IN SAID FIRST DIELECTRIC SPACER, SAID CENTER CONTACT MEMBER HAVING A LEAD-RECEIVING SECTION AT ONE END WITH A PORTION OF SAID LEAD-RECEIVING SECTION DISPOSED IN SAID APERTURE, A SECOND DIELECTRIC SPACER IN THE OTHER OF SAID SHELL AND HAVING A HOLE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID OPENINGS OF THIS OTHER SHELL MEMBER, AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID DIELECTRIC SPACERS, SAID ELECTRICAL COMPENENT HAVING ELECTRICAL LEADS WITH ONE OF SAID ELECTRICAL LEADS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID LEADRECEIVING SECTION AND CRIMPABLE THERETO THROUGH THE ALIGNED APERTURE AND OPENINGS, A FERRULE SECURED TO ANOTHER OF SAID ELECTRICAL LEADS AND DISPOSED IN SAID SECOND DIELECTRIC SPACER, SAID FERRULE HAVING A LEAD-RECEIVING AREA DISPOSED IN SAID HOLE AND CRIMPABLE TO A CONDUCTOR MEMBER THROUGH THE ALIGNED HOLE AND OPENINGS, AND MEANS TO SECURE ANOTHER CONDUCTOR MEMBER TO SAID SHELL. 